Nolan Writin'
Fansided

Joc Pederson injury opens door to long-awaited Rangers debut

Joc Pederson's injury led to a turning point in the Texas Rangers’ season as the team finally gives Alejandro Osuna a shot.
ByOliver Vandervoort|
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Almost nothing went right for the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Not only did the team as a whole forget how to play defense in one particular inning and the bullpen continued to leak like a sieve against a bad Chicago Whitesox team, but Joc Pederson suffered a broken hand after getting hit by a pitch.

If there is a silver lining to that last item, it’s that Pederson's move to the IL reportedly means the beginning of the Alejandro Osuna era in Arlington. According to multiple reports beginning with Jeff Passan, the team made the call to bring up the young OFer late Saturday night.

Osuna being the guy, especially makes sense considering that it feels as though the season is shifting into “show me what you got” territory. Unless something drastic happens in the next few days, the Texas Rangers are in danger of making it unlikely that the playoffs are in the picture.

Rangers fans get their wish after brutal Joc Pederson update

Osuna has been one of those guys that Rangers fans were expecting to come to Globe Life at some point this season. It was thought it wouldn’t be quite this soon. July or August seemed more realistic.

However, with just seven Triple-A games under his belt, the speedy 22-year-old is put up the kind of numbers that might make him valuable to Bruce Bochy and company. Especially since speed really isn’t something the current crop has much of in 2025.

So far between Frisco and Round Rock, Osuna has posted a .280/.385/.413/.798 slashline and has 8 steals in 12 attempts. Most impressively is that he’s shown a bit of pop but also an ability to get on base. And then wreak havoc when he does.

When news that Pederson would be out a minimum of six weeks first hit, there was some talk that the Texas Rangers might go back to the Blaine Crim well instead. He didn’t get much of a chance his first time up and with Pederson out, however, the Texas Rangers are now looking for more of a table-setter personality who has the ability to make contact more than another big bopper who K's too often. The only question now is whether we'll see Osuna in the lineup on Sunday or whether they'll ease him into his new role.